Aeroplane motor-propeller structure



1935- F. E. LOESCHER AEROPLANE MOTOR PROPELLER STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1931 Aug. 13, 1935. F. E. LOESCHER 2,011,051

AEROPLANE MOTOR PROPELLER STRUCTURE I Filed Oct. 15, 1931 BSheets-Sheet 2 M a W WW MM M 3 9 W 6 W 4% 6 w w Wfi fi l @272 37F I D M6 mm M W. mm m 4m 9 w i l m 6 ll 4 a 7/: 0 vI 2 I t 556 m m J aw Ju s n 6 W J 4 W44! L m I, J :;n/ m a w 4 i 4 m m. a u 7 B .4 s 4 9 L 5 Patented Aug. 13, 1935 um'rso STATES PATENT OFFICE AEROPLANE MOTOR-PROPELLEB STRUCTURE 8 Claims.

Generically this invention relates to aeroplanes, but it more especially is directed to the type wherein the motor is mounted directly on the propeller.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of a unitary propeller and motor structure, whereby rotation of the power units with the propeller causes a flywheel and gyroscopic action manifest in the propeller and adapted to effect steadiness of flight.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a unitary propeller and motor structure, embodying means for eflecting a rocket-like exhaust of the motor through the propeller blades, and whereby a mumer effect is obtained.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a propeller and motor structure of the above character, embodying propeller blades movable about their longitudinal axes, and re motely controlled means operatively connected therewith for varying the pitch of said blades and maintaining them at any desired position within their range of adjustment to effect a pulling or braking action as desired. I With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved propeller partly in section;

Fig. 2 is an opposite plan view to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of Fig 1 and showing manner of connecting same to a supporting structure;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views of a portion of the blade and blade adjusting means;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the blade supporting base member;

Fig. 8 is a similar view to Fig. 7 with parts broken away and with the blade anchor member operatively positioned; and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the casing and blade with the connecting parts in section.

Practice has demonstrated the deficiencies of the aeroplane construction now in use and it was to overcome such deficiencies, and to improve the general construction, that I provided my novel propeller structure embodying adjustable blades, tending to relieve the craft of back pull and means remotely operable for changing their pitch as desired, including a simplified motor structure constituting an improvement over the Gnome type of engine by eliminating the common crank shaft, positioning the cylinders on the 5 propeller and distant from the center line to increase the fiywheel action, effect a better cooling of the motor, reduce the .weight of the craft proper and effect more quiet operation by utilizing the propeller blades as exhaust muiiiers, whereby the craft is rendered more stable gyroscopically, that I designed the device forming the subject matter of this invention.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a supporting frame 1 structure A suitably secured to the fuselage or main frame structure, not shown, a stationary shaft structure B, motor units and propeller supporting frame C, propeller blades D and blade control mechanism E.

The supporting frame structure Stationary shaft structure Stationary shaft structure B comprises hollow member formed with an enlarged portion 5 adapted to extend within and be supported by the hub-like tubular extension 4 to which it is suitably secured. Mounted on portion 5 adjacent member 4 keyed or otherwise fixedly secured is stationary bevel gear 6, and slightly spaced from said gear 6, portion 5 is formed with a bevel face I, and extending therefrom is reduced portion 8 terminating in a further reduced end section 9. Portion 8 is threaded to receive adjusting nut ill formed with a bevel face 1 corresponding to face 1 of portion 5, adapted to adjustably engage ballbearing Ii as will hereinafter more fully appear. A similar ring I 2 is tbreadedly mounted on end section 9 to form a seat for ball hearing I! mounted therein and secured by the complemental adjusting ring i4 threadedly engageable on said section 9, said ball bearing being also engageable in the propeller frame structure C as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Motor units and propeller frame structure The propeller supporting frame structure C is substantially rectangular in configuration, formed centrally'with a hub-like housing sec tion l5 adapted to embrace shaft structure B and contact packing disc 16 mounted on hub member 4 adjacent flange 3 and is supported on ball bearings I! also suitably mounted on hub 4 adjacent gear 6, and on ball bearing l3 mounted on section 9 and engageable in the centrally disposed annular supporting housing l8, whereby said frame is freely rotatable about stationary shaft B as will be apparent without further discussion.

Supporting walls l9 suitably connected to housing section l5 adjacent its outer end supported on ball bearings i1 extend in parallelism and are connected to the inner surface of frame C as at 20 in any suitable manner.

Said frame C adjacent its respective outer ends is formed with a casing 2| communicating with a pair of cylinders 22 formed with or suitably connected to said frame and extending in V-type relation or perpendicular with respect to each other. Said casing 2| is divided by a partition 23 with its upper end suitably secured to the inner end wall thereof and its lower end suitably secured to the member i9. Journaled in partition 23 and frame C is crank shaft 24 which extends through outer wall 25 of said casing and projects within extension 26 thereof on which are moimted intermitting contactors 2'l. timed for each respective spark plug circuit in accordance with magneto ignition and distribution system, not shown.

Mounted in each of the respective cylinders 22 is piston 28 suitably connected to the free end of connecting rod 29 with its other end rotatably connected to crank shaft 24, as will be clear without further explanation.

Mounted on and suitably keyed or otherwise secured to crank shaft 24 intermediate partition 23 and outer wall 25 is bevel gear 30 adapted to mesh with gear 3! suitably secured to one end of drive shaft 32 extending through transverse web 33 suitably formed with or connected to casing 34 suitably secured in box 35 formed with or suitably connected to web 33. The inner end of said drive shaft 32 extends through member l3 and is journaled in ball bearing 36 suitably secured in box 31 connected to member [9 similar to box 35. The inner end of said drive shaft 32 is suitably journaled in bearings i l and keyed or otherwise mounted on said shaft adjacent said bearings is pinion bevel gear 38 adapted to mesh with stationary gear 6, and completing the operative gear chain from the crank shaft thereto, for a purpose hereinafter more fully appearing.

Section 5 of stationary shaft B spaced from its inner end is formed with a transverse bore 39 intersecting the central longitudinal bore 40 adapted to receive gas pipe line 4| extending to the outer surface of member 4 and communicating with gas line 42 extending to the inner surface of casing section l5 and outwardly to a point adjacent the converging ends of the cylinders 22 and into crank case and through bypasses 43 suitably communicating with the respective cylinders, as will be well understood.

Suitably mounted on the inner end of the propeller frame section I5 is ring gear 44 adapted to mesh with gear 45 suitably mounted on one end of rotatable shaft 46 extending through members i and 3 and journaled in bearings 41 suitably secured to said members. A hand crank 48 is detachabiy connected to the free end of said shaft 46 and which may be utilized as an auxiliary starter, if desired. Said shaft 46 is adapted to actuate the generator, pumps and other mechanisms as desired through the instrumentality of suitable gearing, not shown.

The frame structure C is adapted to project at its respective ends beyond casing 2| in an integral supporting frame structure 49, or it may comprise a. supporting channel member 50 bolted, welded or otherwise rigidly secured to casing 2i and a spaced supporting member 5| substantially Z-shaped in cross section formed with an extension 52 adapted to overlie the outer side surface of said casing and suitably secured thereto. Frame structure 49 is formed with or has suitably and firmly mounted thereon a propeller supporting annular base member 53 comprising a bottom member 54 formed with a central opening 55, an annular wall 56 and a lateral flange 51 extending inwardly at right angles thereto and forming n a circumferential channel 58. A cut-out portion or slot 59 is formed in the side 56 and flange 51 at a point opposite to the direction of flight or front of the propeller.

An exhaust pipe 59 communicates through a suitable connection with each of the respective cylinders 22 as at 60 converging exterior of member C as at 6! into a single exhaust gas conduit, or they may continue as twin parallel conduits through frame 49 and opening 55, as desired, and discharging through blade D as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Lubrication of the device is effected in any well known manner from oil lead in pipe 62 extending through bore 40 from a source of supply as will be well understood.

Propeller blade structure Each of the respective propeller blades D isoi? conventional configuration, except being detachably connected at its inner end to base member 53 of frame C and is formed with an annular base plate or member 63 having a centrally disposed hollow hub member 64 and a parallelly extending substantially rectangular anchor member 64 integrally formed with or suitably secured to the outer end of said hub, and suitably mounted on the respective ends of said member 64' are ball bearings 65. Said blade D is operatively connected to base member 53 by inserting hubmember 64 through slot 59' with the ends of anchor member 64' engaging channel 58, said member 64 normally extending at right angles to slot 59', whereby disengagement of the blade is prevented and ball bearings 65 adapted to utilize wall 56 as a raceway, within the range of adjustmentof the blade, as will directly more fully appear in connection with blade control mechanism now to be described.

Each of the respective blades D is formed with an opening 65' extending therethrough from the inner end of hub 64 to a point adiacent one edge as at 66, and terminating at the opposite edge as at 61 adjacent the tip 68. The exhaust gases may be directed from exhaust pipes 59. through hub 64 directly into said opening from which they are discharged at 61, or said twin pipes 59 may extend through said opening and terminate at 61 if desired.

It will be apparent that such construction constitutes a muflier and rocket-like discharge means for the exhaust gases through said blades, and further explanation would seem to be unnecessary.

Blade control mechanism nular anchor split type of housing 1| mounted on the free end thereof.

Said shaft 88 is formed adjacent its free end with an integral annular web member 12 engaged in ball bearings 13 suitably mounted in housing H, and formed on opposite sides with a pair of spaced ears H between which are suitably secured the respective inner ends of arms I5 fulcrumed in saddle members 18 suitably secured to frame C adjacent their free ends by bolts 11 or other suitable fastening elements on pins or bolts I8 mounted in said saddles and extending through longitudinal slots I9 formed in said arms. The arms 15 are formed with elbow lever sections 88 extending beyond said saddles 18, the free'ends 8| of which slidably extend through swivel members 82 rotatably mounted in spaced lugs 83 suitably mounted in the lower ends of blades D adjacent the thickened edges thereof and project within slots 84 formed therein, as and for a purpose hereinafter more fully appearing.

From the above it is apparent that housing H to which are attached arms 15 is adapted to freely rotate about shaft 69, and operation of handle 18 effects longitudinal adjustment of said housing and arms as desired to vary the pitch of said blades D from a maximum pitch or pulling position to a minimum pitch or braking position in accordance with operating requirements. Actuation of handle iii in one direction moves shaft 88 to extended position and positions arms 15 at an angle with respect to frame 0 and blades D at minimum pitch, and in the opposite direction retracting said shaft and positioning said arms in substantial parallelism with respect to said frame member C, and moving and maintaining said blades at maximum pitch or at anydegree within their range of adjustment, as desired.

Operation While the operation of the device would seem to be clear from the above description, it might be well to further state that the propeller may be started by any suitable starter means in the usual manner or by the auxiliary starter above described to produce explosions in the respective cylinders and imparting movement to crank shafts 24, respective gear wheels 30 and 3|, shaft 32 and gears 38 meshing with stationary gear 6, causing rotation of the propeller, as will be apparent, and the pitch of the blades D may be adjusted or varied within their range of adjustment from maximum pulling pitch to minimum or braking pitch by the pilot from his position in the ship, as desired, by actuation of handle 10, effecting lon gitudinal adjustment of shaft 69 and housing ll towards or away from frame C, imparting similar movement to the inner ends of blade adjusting levers 15 fulcrumed in members It, effecting slidable movement of the free ends of said levers in swivel members 82 to rotate said blades about their longitudinal axes to any desired pitch adjustment as hereinbefore described.

From the above it is apparent that I have designed a motorized adjustable propeller structure simple in construction, manufacturable at a minimum cost, versatile in operation, and cilicient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice I have found that the form of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment, is the most eflicient and practical; yet realizing the conditionsconcurrent with the adoption of my invention will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sac riflcing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims:

1. A propeller structure comprising an anchor frame means, a stationary shaft mounted in said frame, a propeller including a hub extension rotatably mounted on the shaft, driving means carried by the propeller and co'acting with the shaft to effect rotation thereof, and auxiliary starter 'means mounted in said anchor frame and coacting with said hub extension, whereby initial starting of the propeller may be effected.

2. A propeller structure comprising an anchor means, a stationary shaft mounted in said means, a propeller including a hub member rotatably mounted on the shaft, driving means carried by the propeller and coacting with the shaft to effect rotation thereof, and auxiliary starter means including a gear associated with said hub member and a gear mechanism mounted in said anchor means and coacting with said first mentioned gear, whereby initial starting of the propeller may be effected.

3. A propeller structure comprising an anchor frame, a stationary shaft mounted in said frame including a stationary gear, a propeller mecha nism rotatably mounted on said shaft including driving means mounted on opposite sides of said shaft and coacting with said stationary gear to effect rotation of said propeller, a hub-like housing embracing said gear, and auxiliary starter means mounted in said frame and coacting with said housing, whereby initial starting of the propeller is effected.

4. A propeller structure comprising an anchor means, a stationary shaft including a fixed gear mounted in said means, asubstantially rectangular propeller frame having a hub-like housing rotatably mounted on said shaft, a driving unit comprising twin cylinders mounted adjacent each end of the frame, a detachable and movable blade suitably secured to each end of the frame in longitudinal alignment with respect thereto,

connecting means between the respective units and stationary gear to effect rotation of said propeller, and starter means mounted in said anchor means and coacting with said hub-like housing, whereby initial starting of the propeller is effected.

5. A propeller structure comprising an anchor means having a hub like portion formed on opposite sides with ports, a shaft fixedly mounted in said hub portion, a fuel conduit extending through said shaft and terminating at the respective ports, a propeller including a blade supporting frame having a hub extension rotatably mounted on the shaft, driving means mounted adjacent each end of said frame and coacting with the shaft to effect rotation thereof, a propeller blade movably connected to each end of the frame, fuel conduit means carried by the frame and adapted to communicate with said ports, and starter means coacting with said hub extension to effect initial starting of the propeller.

6. A propeller structure comprising an anchor frame means, a stationary shaft including a fixed gear mounted in said frame, a ball bearing mounted on said shaft, a propeller including a supporting frame formed with a hub like portion rotatably mounted on the shaft, a driving means mounted on the frame on opposite sides of said shaft, 8, driving rod means interconnecting each of said driving means and stationary gear and journalled in said ball bearing to effect rotation of said propeller, and starter means coacting with said hub portion, whereby initial starting of said propeller is effected.

'7. A propeller structure comprising a supporting anchor means, a stationary shaft mounted in said means, a propeller including a body section rotatably mounted on the shaft and having its ends formed with seats, a propeller blade detachably engageable with each of said seats and in longitudinal alignment with said frame, driving means carried by said frame adjacent said seats and coacting with said shaft to effect rotation thereof, and starter means coacting with said body section, whereby starting of the propeller is efiected.

8. A propeller structure comprising an anchor means having a hub like portion formed on opposite sides with ports, a shaft fixedly mounted in said hub portion, a fuel conduit extending through said shaft and terminating at the respective ports, a propeller including a blade supporting frame having a hub extension rotatably mounted on the shaft, a fixed gear mounted on said shaft, gear means mounted adjacent each end of said frame and coacting with said fixed gear, a propeller blade movably connected to each end of the frame, fuel conduit means carried by the frame and communicating with said ports, and means carried by the frame for driving said gear mounted at each end of said frame, whereby rotation of the propeller is effected.

FREDERICK E. LOESCHER. 

